Hidden pipes are likely something that you rarely think about until they begin to cause a problem. Burst pipes are common in the winter time when temperatures dip below freezing, but they can also happen due to failing materials and other issues. Seeing water leaking from the walls is stressful, but you can quickly deal with the issue before too much damage occurs by taking these essential actions.
Shut Off the Water and Drain the Faucets
Stopping the water from flowing into the rest of the building is your biggest priority. Locate the emergency shut off valve and turn it until the water stops flowing. Keep in mind that these valves can sometimes be hard to shut off if it has been years since they’ve been touched. Once you get the water turned off, you can then open up the nearby faucets to get any remaining water out of the pipes.
Call for Professional Help
A burst pipe is considered to be a plumbing emergency. Plumbers know how to access the pipe in ways that minimize the damage to the wall. Your plumber will also be better able to locate the source of the leak since water might be running down from a different part of the wall than you suspect. Once they fix the broken part of the pipe, they can make recommendations to help you avoid dealing with this problem again.
Begin Cleaning Up the Visible Water
You can start cleaning up any obvious water puddles while you wait for the plumber. With the water shut off, you shouldn’t see much more water coming outside of the wall other than what might still be dripping down the walls. Mopping up the water helps to prevent damage to the floor and any other items that are located nearby.
Finish the Drying Out Process
After the final pipe repair, you can get started getting things completely back to normal. Depending upon how much water leaked out, you may need to replace parts of the drywall. Or, you might be fortunate enough to be able to use fans to help speed up the drying process. If the weather is nice, you can also open up windows and doors to stimulate more air flow to the area.
The time clock for preventing damage begins as soon as the first drops of water come out of the pipe. Always use caution when checking out plumbing leaks since there may be electrical wires nearby. Working quickly to get a professional on the scene helps to keep your family safe and potentially prevent you from needing to replace expensive building materials.
